Documents for Japan: do you need a visa? What to bring and how to get through the checks
For a tourist trip of up to 90 days, Italians do not need a visa: a passport is enough. But there are a few things to know before you leave, from the online form to the airport to the medicines you cannot bring.
Here you will find everything in order: what you need, how arrival works, what is coming in 2028 and the mistakes to avoid.
- Updated October 2026
- No visa up to 90 days
- Visit Japan Web step by step
The documents you need, in brief
Valid passport
It must be valid for the whole length of your stay. Japan does not formally require 6 months of remaining validity, but check the expiry date well in advance: airlines can be stricter. An ID card is not enough.
No visa up to 90 days
For tourism, visits to friends and relatives or short events you can stay up to 90 days without a visa. The temporary stay permit is granted on arrival. Working is not allowed.
Onward or return ticket
At immigration they may ask you to prove that you will leave the country. Keep your return or onward ticket at hand, also on your phone.
Address of your first accommodation
The form asks for the name, address and phone number of the hotel or apartment for your first night. Save them on your phone before the flight, also offline.
Sufficient funds
They may ask how you are financing the trip. It is enough to show a credit card, some cash or the booking of your flights and accommodation.
Fingerprints and photo
As with all foreigners, on arrival immigration takes your fingerprints and a photo. It takes a few seconds: take off dark glasses and your hat.
How to fill in the online form, step by step
It is not mandatory, but it saves you time at the checks: the QR code replaces both the arrival card and the customs declaration. It works at the main airports; at the others and at seaports, paper forms are still used.
Sign up and create your profile
Go to the official Visit Japan Web site (a Japanese government service) and create an account with email and password. The service is free: beware of paid sites that present themselves as “official”.
Enter your passport details
Add your details and those of the people traveling with you: you can manage several people, including children, from the same account.
Register your entry
Enter the date and number of your flight, the address of your first accommodation and answer the customs questions. At the end you get a single QR code for immigration and customs.
Save and take a screenshot of the QR
Keep the QR on your phone and save a copy as an image: on arrival there may not be a signal right away.
You can also fill it in over several sessions: the data stays saved and you complete it when you have your flight and accommodation.
What happens at the airport
1. Immigration
Follow the “Foreign Passport” signs. If you have the QR code go to the dedicated booths; otherwise fill in the white arrival card (Disembarkation Card) before joining the queue. The officer takes your fingerprints and photo, then stamps your passport or applies the sticker for the 90-day temporary stay permit.
2. Baggage claim
Collect your suitcase from the belt. If you do not have the QR code, this is the time to fill in the yellow customs declaration (Customs Declaration), one per family.
3. Customs
Hand over the form or have the QR code scanned. Declare what is required (see below) and remember that some products are not allowed.
4. Exit
After customs you are in the arrivals hall, where you find currency exchange, eSIM or Pocket WiFi pickup and transportation. Allow from 30 minutes to over an hour between landing and exit at peak times.
What to declare and what not to bring
Medicines
Be careful with drugs containing pseudoephedrine (some flu remedies and decongestants) and those with codeine: in Japan they are banned or very restricted. For prescription drugs bring the prescription and the list of active ingredients, and check the rules of Japan's Ministry of Health.
Cash
Amounts equal to or above 1,000,000 yen (cash, checks, cryptocurrency) must be declared at customs.
Alcohol, tobacco and purchases
For alcohol there is an allowance of 3 bottles of about 760 ml; there are also limits for cigarettes and perfume. Goods purchased above a certain value are subject to duty. Check the current limits on the Japanese customs website.
Prohibited or restricted products
Drugs, weapons, obscene material and counterfeit goods are prohibited. Fresh fruit, meat and animal products are not allowed without authorization, not even in sandwiches from the flight.
JESTA: the online authorization from 2028
Japan has announced the introduction of JESTA, an electronic authorization to be requested online before the trip, similar to the American ESTA. It should apply to citizens of visa-exempt countries, Italy included, from 2028.
Cost and procedure are not final yet. For now nothing changes: today no authorization is needed. Check the official websites before you leave after that date.
Three things that people forget
Departure tax: 3,000 yen
From July 1, 2026 anyone leaving Japan pays an international tourist tax of 3,000 yen per person, up from the previous 1,000. It is normally already included in the price of the plane ticket: check the fare breakdown.
Health insurance
The Italian health card does not cover treatment in Japan. Travel insurance with medical expenses is the most important protection to arrange before you leave.
Driving license
If you want to rent a car you need your Italian license together with the international driving permit (1949 model) or a recognized official translation. Check the current rule on the JAF website.
Arrive in Japan already connected
The Visit Japan Web QR code and maps work better with the internet on as soon as you land. Choose an eSIM or a Pocket WiFi and save time.
What people ask most often
Do I need a visa to go to Japan as a tourist?
No, if you have an Italian passport and stay up to 90 days for tourism. If you have another passport, check the Japanese embassy's website.
Can I enter Japan with an ID card?
No. You need a passport, valid for the whole length of your trip.
Is Visit Japan Web mandatory?
No, but it saves you a lot of time. If you do not fill it in, on arrival you will find paper forms to complete (the white arrival card and the yellow customs declaration).
How many days can I stay in Japan without a visa?
Up to 90 days for tourism. If you want to stay longer or work, you must apply for a suitable visa before you leave.
What happens if the QR code does not work on arrival?
No problem: the staff will give you the paper forms to fill in. Keep your passport, hotel address and flight number at hand.
Can I bring my medicines?
It depends on the active ingredient. Pseudoephedrine and codeine are banned or very restricted. For prescription drugs bring the prescription and the list of active ingredients, and check the rules on the Japanese Ministry of Health website before you leave.
What is JESTA?
It is Japan's future electronic travel authorization for people who do not need a visa, expected from 2028. At the moment it is not yet required.
How much is the departure tax from Japan?
3,000 yen per person from July 1, 2026. It is usually already included in the plane ticket.